Cementum, root dentin and bone extracts stimulate chemotactic behavior in cells from periodontal tissue.

In this paper, we used the extracts from cementum, bone, dentin and enamel, and compared the chemotactic behavior of human periodontal ligament (HPDL) cells, human gingival fibroblasts (HGF) and human alveolar bone (HAB) cells using modified Boyden chambers. The extracts, obtained using 4 M guanidine HCl ("G" extract), from cementum, root dentin, and bone had greater chemotactic effects than all the 4 M guanidine HCl/0.5 M EDTA extracts ("E" extract). HPDL cells and HGF exhibited higher chemotactic behavior than osteoblast-like HAB cells in response to cementum and root dentin "G" extracts. On the other hand, HAB cells showed the highest migratory activity in response to the bone "G" extract. The chemotactic activities of these extracts were reduced by heat- and trypsin-treatment. These results suggest that proteinaceous chemotactic factors exist in the cementum, root dentin and bone, and they appear to regulate the migration and orientation of HPDL cells, HGF and HAB cells during periodontal wound healing.